Tension device



P. A. BISHOP. TENSION DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED Aue.B. 1921.

mm 00t.241,1922.

Patented ct. t, 122..

int

r F ter/ lit at rnnsnton nnvrcn.

Application filedlnugust a,

To all whom it may concern: a y i Be it known thatI, PETER A. BISHOP,EL citizen of the United States, residingatFall River, county of Bristol, State of assachu setts, have invented certain new andusetul. Improvements in Tension .Devices, of which the followingjisla specification.

This invention relates to tension devices and particularly to tensions ctor yarns and threads. l hile my invention is in part capable of use in somewhat varied fields, I have for purposes of illustration shown as a specific embodiment, a winding machine tension as being both a satisfactory illustrationiof its general principles aswell as a valuable and specific embodiment which I T have found well adapted for practical use. In machines of this sort, the necessity. for providing tensions that will be constant over a considerable range-pf adjustment 1 have been tound to be of great importancabut tensions embodying these features are somewhat difficult to secure in forms which. are practically successful and commercially pro- .ducibleat a reasonable cost.

Dine of the difficulties has been to provide for adjustment to. such varied tensions as may be needed for. different kinds of yarns or different results and at the same time to have a tension which will run smooth and uniform for the resistance for which it is set.

Throughout specification and drawings like reference characters are employed to indicate corresponding parts and i in the drawings: 1 1 i Fig. 1 shows my invention embodied as a part of a spooling machine. a

Fig. 2 is an elevation of theend ot the boba bin frame which is broken off for the purpose of illustration, and

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same. I

In the drawings I have shown bobbin frame 1 having a clamping j aw 2 with a set screw 2 clamping it on a bobbin holder rod 3. a

On the arm 1 is a bracket holder on which i 1921. Serial mitten lee. Y

tached to the end of the just bhind the part 5 is a ballrace comprising a sidewall 7 which rises slightly above the main part of the race casting. Thiscasting has a longitudinalbore 8 with an intersecting slot at its top extending tromits forward end almost toits rearward end. notched as at 9 to make a thread guide; The race is attached to the arm 1 by a screw 10 in anfear 11, the forward end of the race resting on ashoulder 6 rearwardly project ing from the portion 5.

Within the cylindricalbore 8 are a plurality of balls 12. In the present instance tension is shown withiour balls in placeybut it will "be understood that tensions may be made with greater or less numberotballs and the number: otballs in any given race may be diminished from its maximumnumber oy-removing one. or more balls when is desired to reducethe tension. 1

I provide a takeup 13 adjustably mounted as are upon the upperinner edge of the ball race. As here shown the take-up 13is in the form of aplate which is slidably mounted. upon the race castingand is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 13 in which isidisposedthe set screw'lt 'lorholding the adjustment of said take-up.

thread maybe passed to keep it in proper positionibelow theballs in the race. By. loosening the set screw firtand sliding the follower 13 axially relative to the raceway of: the race casting, the position of the balls 12 relative to each other will be changed and the tension on the thread varied.

The thread is led from the bobbin B up throughthe notch- 6 and into the guide through the notch 5 and being drawn down beneath the balls 12 which have enough play to permit the thread to be drawn through the bottom of the cylindrical bore 8 and under the central vertical axis of each.

The thread also passes the end of the follower 13' and the notch 01' opening 9 at the rear of the follower. At this point it is passes to a spool which is not shown.

The action of the balls 12 on the thread T produces a uniform, steady tension and The rearward end turned about the knob 15 from which it one which at the same time is very free running. Adjustment may be made quickly and with considerable certainty as there is no such variation in the increase and diminution of the tension as occurs in the case of ordinary spring tensions or friction tensions.

My tension device is capable of being made in a great variety of sizes either by varying the length of the cylindrical race or by varying the diameter of the balls.

While I have referred to my friction elements as balls it will be understood that this is illustrative and that any other roller or rotative element may be employed. The ball and cylindrical bore construction has considerable commercial advantage as the balls are procurable as standard articles of manufacture in a highly developed state both as to uniformity in weight and curvature, andxin smoothness and hardness of finish." y

The rotating elements are not only removable and replacable for purposesof v ryingtension but obviously may be replaced Without muchtrouble or expense, if worn or rusted.

'My invention is capable of a variety of modifications and embodiments and may be variously applied and used all without departing from the-spirit of my invention if within the limitsolf the appended claims.

What I- therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is:

1. In tension device of the class described comprising a thread guide, a raceway included in said guide, removable and replacablc rotative friction elements in said raceway and a follower mounted for axial adjustmentwith reference to said raceway and adapted to contact the rear side of the last ball therein.

In tension device of the class described comprising a thread guide, a raceway included in said guide, removable and replacable spherical friction elements in saidr-aceway and a follower mounted for axial ad justment with reference to said raceway and adapted to contact the rear side of the last ball therein.

3. In tension device of the class deseriln-ul comprising a thread guide, a cylindrical raceway included in said guide, removable and replacable sphericalv friction elements in said raceway and a follower mounted for axial adjustment with reference to said raceway and adapted to contact the rear side of the last ball therein.

4. In a winding machine of the class described, a bobbin frame having a. thread guide at its end and a thread tension device set behind said thread guide and comprising a block having a cylindrical bore with an intersecting slot at its top, an axially adjustable follower mounted on said block and disposed through said slot and'a pln rality of the balls in said bore and loosely fitting therein and supported in axial nlinement therewith by said follower.

5. In a winding machine of the class described, a bobbin frame having a thread guide at its end and a thread tension devieo having a cylindrical bore with a plurality of the balls in said bore and loosely fitting therein and a follower adjustable axially of said bore and contacting the end ball therein.

6. In a winding machine of the class described, a bobbin frame having a notch thread guide at its end and a thread tension device set behind said thread guide and supported thereby and comprising a block having a cylindrical bore with an intersecting slot at its top, an axially adjustable follower mounted on said block and having a ball contacting portion disposed through said slot and a plurality of the balls in said bore and loosely fitting therein and supported in axial alinement therewith by said ball contacting portion of the follower.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PETER A. BISHOP. lVitnesses ARTHUR P. BISHOP, ADnLAnn lnon'x.

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